Ever since the 17 HMR came out I've thought that this might be the perfect caliber for fox callers. But I'm not trapping/fur hunting right now, and there aren't many fox where I live these daze. Don't even have a 17 HMR.

Any of you Fur minded folk have an opinion on taking fox pelts with this caliber? Does the 17 exit the off side with a broadside shot? Is it enough gun to anchor Reds?

Out to 100 yards or so, the HMR does decently on grays with the 20 grain XTP load. But grays are smaller and not nearly as tenacious as reds -- at least in my experience. For reds, I'd say the round is certainly borderline but would probably do OK out to perhaps 50 yards.

Even on the tiny grays, which weigh perhaps 9-11 pounds in my area, the bullets do not exit.

I personally prefer a round with a bit more punch for reds -- and something along the lines of the 17 Mach IV is just right. But the .17 Ackley Hornet may be perfect for calling in situations where the range won't exceed 150 yards. I don't have one of those (.17 AH) yet but am definitely looking into it as a forum member from east TX has recently picqued my interest in the little centerfire .17s.

Bobby:

Before you jump on that one. Come to Saubier.com and read up on the many small .17 centerfire's these guys have been building and using.

The only fox I've shot with a .17 was a 17 Rem at about 100 feet and blew it nearly in half broadside.

Had a hard time believing that after watching quite a few coyote bowled over with it and no exit.

George

George-

I consider the .17 Remington one of the "larger" .17s and too much for the smaller varieties of fox, particularly with the older Hornady 25 grain HP.

I've never been to the site you mention, but I don't base any of my choices on anything but actual field experience. (That way, I have no one to blame but myself when something goes awry

Well the only fox species we have down here is the european red fox and I can tell you with certainty that a 17HMR with good bullet placement will put them down every time out to 100 yrds with no difficulty.

I prefer to use the 20gr XTP (more accuracy in my rifle) but the 17 grainers work just as well.
Generally there will be no exit wound and it will be all you can do to find the entry as well.
Pelt damage is virtually zero.

I agree with georgeld that the larger .17 centrefires are too much gun if you want to save the skins. They will generally exit the body of the animal leaving a large hole at the least, although the 17 hornet might be worth considering.

A long as shots don't exceed 100yds the HMR works well on the lightly built reynard.

17Ah is about as good as it gets for a fox gun. 20gr V-max. A 17 Rem is very do able on a fox when a coyote is on the menu. 20 grain V-max will knock a song dog in the dirt with good bullet placement at 4000fps plus. Not the best choice but will work. Works pretty good on foxes if you stay off of the big bones and fringes. Hit big bone and you will red rag a fox quick.

If I was buying a factory built rifle for calling foxes/coyotes a 17 Fireball would be top pick with no hesitations.

I have killed around 10 greys with the 17hmr all with 17 grain V-max bullets,the furthest being around 80-100 yards. I have tried the xtp but havnt connected with one yet. alot of guys prefer the 17 gr tnt over the v-max

I've only shot two so far with the hummer, both big winter reds. Both simply died on the spot without so much as twitching their tails. One measured at 122yds the other a bit less. No exits and teeny tiny entrence holes. I wouldn't hesitate to use it again!

I used to use a 22k hornet for my main fox rifle.Then 1 day i shot a fox with my 17 HMR traded in the hornet and dies the same day. You hit them in the front end they are dead.Though if you hit a rib they can tear up the pelt a bit.We leave baits {Deer heads road kill wombats etc) out for foxes feral cats etc.about a 100 metres into the paddock behind the house ,shot more foxes than i can rember off them with the 17.

The 17 HMR is just about PERFECT for fox, even big northern reds. Any decent hit in the front 1/3 of the body will anchor one just fine. 100-125 yards is perfectly adequate for calling ranges and the 17HMR works great at these ranges. All the fox I have shto have been bang flops with no exit on most of them. I've been using the 17gr Vmax bullets.

Lots of good info here.

I just finished rebuilding a NEF HMR into a .17x28mm. based on that 5.7x28mm FN case.

Haven't taken it to the field or range yet. That's coming up friday. But, I've fired about 20 into a block of lead in my shop checking the loads and chamber.
Impressive crater in the lead at 35 feet. Several times as much as the HMR did.

Am looking fwd to working on some prairie dogs with it Friday. At least til the ammo runs out. Sure could use more brass if anyone come's up with some. Please send me an e/mail and we'll make a deal for it.
I've posted and gotten some on ammobrasstrader.com, good site.

At least this one can be reloaded, that's my goal. HMR's can't be. Cases' are very near the same size, except dia. Even inch from head to shoulder.

Supposed to shoot the 20gr at 3460fps with 10gr 1680. In my gun, that's a little bit hot, primers are out some. 9.5gr looks perfect.

Never had a live shot when it was HMR. Took it out last winter but, nothing was out to shoot. By spring it was rechambered to this.

The 17M2 isn't quite enough on p/dogs IMO. Shot one thru the middle and half hour later it was still alive. I don't want things to suffer that way. So, head shots or none now.

George

this is the cartridge george rechambered his nef to, with 25 gr bullets it will do with aa1680 powder 3150 and 20 gr vmaxes 3642 with ww680 powder. the cartridge uses aproximitly 10 grains of powder and can be reloaded for less than you can buy 17 hmr ammo for.
super accurate and is probably the best and most economical fox killer around. guys that shoot fox with their big 17's usually download the 25 gr bullets to 3000 fps to prevent fur damage.


i too believe in field experiance, here is the results of one stand.

sometimes you get a mixed bag when calling for fox, here is an afternoons hunt.

it's a very accurat cartridge as well....